You will need to file the Declaration with the Clerk and Recorder's Office in the county where the homestead is located. Need More Information?Montana State University Extension has an updated MontGuide about filing a homestead declaration and the benefits it gives homeowners. To the professionals at my local Clerk and Recorder's Office,. The Homestead Act of 1862 enabled thousands of individuals and families to claim land in Montana. The act offered 160 acres of land to United States Citizens. If one spouse does not sign, his or her interest in the property is not exempt. Homestead declaration form. To be eligible for the homestead exemption, this form must be completed, signed and returned to the City. This 17-minute video surveys the advent of homesteading in Montana with an overarching theme of immigration and its effects on the state.